CURRENT MISSION

I'm looking forward to meeting new people! I also enjoy helping people experience all that northern Arizona
has to offer!

I don't host solo guys or a group of just guys. (As stated in my "My Home" section). I have worked with 15 to 20 guys for over 20 years so I don't need any more "guy time".

I work a rotating schedule: any day of the week and any hour of the day. My typical shifts are 2300-0700, 0700-1500, or 1500 -2300. That means I also sleep odd hours. In general, please plan to arrive before 900 PM.

My most recent "Surfer" pictures are at the bottom of the album.

ABOUT ME

I will no longer host people who smoke. If you smoke, please don't ask to stay with me. Cigarette butts ARE litter and littering in your hosts' front yard is not acceptable in any form or fashion.

Please send a Couch Request and not a message if you want to surf my couch. I think it is easier for both of us that way.

Please read the "My Home" section before you ask to stay with me.

Please tell me about the other people that you are traveling with when you ask to stay with me. "Me and 3 friends..." is not enough information to give you a positive answer.

I live and work in the Flagstaff area. I enjoy most outdoor activities and can give you advice on what to see in and around the Flagstaff area. I like to spend more time outside than inside so my advice on the social scene in Flagstaff might be lacking.

I rarely drink alcohol. Let me know if you do not eat meat as I cook meat for dinner from time to time.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I mostly host people in my house that are either going to or have just been to the Grand Canyon.
(I uploaded pictures of Waterhole Canyon in my Bryce Canyon album--this is an alternative to Antelope Canyon--much more fun in my opinion.)

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've hosted well over 825 people (as of April 1, 2024).
I have surfed with:
Adriana in San Jose, CA 8/09
Carol in Trinidad, CA 8/2009
Gina in Seattle, WA 8/2010
Rayn and Darcy in Eugene, OR 9/2010
Don in Yakima, WA 9/2010
Lisa in Seattle, WA 9/2010
Shenna in Cedar City, UT 9/2011
Rebecca and Corey in Charlottesville, VA 9/2012
Phatty in Annapolis, MD 9/2012
Laura in Brooklyn, NY 9/2012
Barrie in Ipswich, MA 9/2012
Sheila in Bend, OR 11/2012
Lindsey in Wenatchee, WA 11/2012
Diane in Mukilteo, WA 11/2012
Aymee in Bellingham, WA 11/2012
Gabriela in Ensenada, Mexico 2/2013
Lorena and family in Bogota´, Colombia 5/2013
Sarah in Mancos, CO 6/2013
Jen in Bellinham, WA 8/2014
Hanna in Klamath Falls, OR, 9/2014
Anna in Bozeman, MT 9/2014
Christy in Santa Fe, NM 4/2015
Jeanne in Albuqureque, NM 4/2015
Heather in Anchorage, AK 9/2015
Cassie in Fairbanks, AK 9/2015
Chelsea and Mark in Kenai, AK 9/2015
Meryn in Adelaide, South Australia 2/2016
Darrah in Durango, CO 9/2016.
Brittany in Austin, TX 8 /2017
Rachel in Ames, IA 8/2017
Diana in Davison, MI 8/2017
Bridget in Durango, CO 3/2018
Jillian in Arlington, TX May 2018
Mathew, Linda, Jessica, and Theo in Kisa, Sweden July 2018
Max and Clarisse in Malmö, Sweden July 2018
Haleh in Malmö July 2018
Patryk and Malin in Malmö July 2018
Alex and Linn in Gothenberg, Sweden July 2018
Amy in Jönköping, Sweden July 2018.
Melissa in Nuremberg, Germany August 2018.
Michelle in Münich, Germany 8-18
Kateřina in Pilsen, Czech Repblic September 2018
Zuzana in Prauge, CR 9-18.
Kasia in Katowice, Poland 9-18.
Vera et al in Wroclaw, Poland 9-18.
Cornelia in Berlin, Germany 9-18
Ania in Potsdam, Germany 9-18
Anna in Kiel, Germany 9-18
Svenja in Hamburg, Germany 9-18
Barbara near Stuttgart, Germany September 2018
Manu near Stuttgart, Germany September 2018
Max in Frankfurt, Germany September 2018
Ania in Reykjanesbær, Iceland October 2019

Interests

In my free time I enjoy most outdoor sports including: hiking, camping, backpacking, canoe/kayak trips, downhill and cross country skiing. I have spent around 50 nights below the Rim of the Grand Canyon since 1984 both backpacking and rafting. I can give you advice on how to see The Canyon, what trails to hike, and when to avoid hiking to the river.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Climbed Popocatepetl January 2, 1993. It is the second highest peak in Mexico (5th highest in North America) at 17,887 feet.

Teach, Learn, Share

This is an easy chart to make to convert temperatures. There are 100 degrees C between freezing and boiling and 180 degrees F. (100/180 = 5/9) So, start at 0C and add/subtract 5 going up and down. Then, in the other column, start at 32F and add/subtract 9 going up and down. If anyone ever tells you that it was -40...don't ask if it was in C or F. It is the same. :) (For some reason, this site put the chart on just a few lines instead of going up and down on 20 lines.)

C F
50C = 122F
45C = 113F
40C = 104F
35C= 95F
30C = 86F
25C = 77F
20C = 68F
15C = 59F
10C = 50F
5C = 41F
0C = 32F
-5C = 23F
-10C =14F
-15C = 5F
-20C = -4F
-25C = -13F
-30C = -22F
-35C = -31F
-40C = -40F

What I Can Share with Hosts

I often take people on a big day loop to see this part of northern Arizona. Start in Flagstaff and drive northeast on Highway 89 to Sunset Crater National Monument (http://www.nps.gov/sucr/index.htm). There are several good places to stop and look at the geology (volcanic). Then drive on to Wupatki National Monument (stop at Wukoki and the main visitors center--look for the "Blowhole") http://www.nps.gov/wupa/index.htm. From there, go to the Cameron Trading Post and get a Navajo Taco or stew and Navajo Fry Bread for lunch at the restaurant https://www.camerontradingpost.com/. The Little Colorado River is just about 200 meters away from the restaurant. That flows into the Colorado River. It flows muddy during wet periods and will make the Colorado River muddy. Then backtrack about 2 km to Highway 64 and go west toward the Grand Canyon. Stop at the Little Colorado River Gorge Overlook (9.4 miles from Highway 89 near mile post 286). Then stop at Desert View--the first place to see the Grand Canyon. To get your first view of the Canyon...go left of the Tower to avoid a crowd of people...then go up in the tower. From there, keep going west and stop at the overlooks. Lipan, Moran, and Grandview Overlooks are good. You can hike along the Rim from Yaki Point to Hermits Rest--about 10 miles (16 km) for the whole distance or just walk parts of it. During the summer, there are shuttle buses that go all the way to Hermits Rest. During the winter, the buses just run from the Village to the east. I often will hike from Bright Angel Lodge to Powell Point, Hopi Point, or Mohave Point to watch the sunset. You can take the shuttle back in the spring-fall. The Rim is over 7000 feet elevation and it can get cold...and snowy from mid fall to mid spring (October - May). Then, you can take Highway 64 south to Williams or take Highway 180 about 20 miles south of the Park to Flagstaff. Watch for deer and elk at night along the road.

The best day hike in the Canyon is the South Kaibab Trail to Skeleton Point. http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/upload/South_Kaibab_Trail.pdf
It is 3 miles (4.8 km) down and 2040 feet (622 meters) down in elevation. Once you get to the Skeleton Point sign, go left about 200 meters to where you can see the Colorado River and Phantom Ranch. There is no water along the trail so take 2 liters of water in the winter and 3 liters of water in the summer. There is little if any shade during the middle of the day. You can take the Orange Shuttle from the Visitors Center to the trailhead at Yaki Point or hike 2.4 miles (3.8 km) along the Rim Trail from the Visitors Center.

For hikes around Flagstaff and Sedona visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/coconino/recreation/hiking/

There are two hostels in Flagstaff run by the same company/website:
http://www.grandcanyonhostel.com/

Camping around Flagstaff:
http://koa.com/campgrounds/flagstaff/

http://www.woodymountaincampground.com/

http://www.camparizona.com/campsites/flagstaffcampsites/lake%20view.htm

I have never been to Antelope Canyon near Page, AZ. However, I have been to Waterhole Canyon at least 10 times. It is 2.7 miles southwest of Horseshoe Bend. There was a change in the Page, AZ area on May 1, 2018. You now must use a tour guide. Waterhole Experience Tours is the only guide that I know about. Their number is (928) 660-1268/(928) 660-2031 and their website is: https://www.facebook.com/waterholecanyonexperience/ I posted some pictures of Waterhole Canyon in my Bryce Canyon photo album.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Jordan, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland

Countries I’ve Lived In

Mexico, United States

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